Bahadur Singh Sagoo, a celebrated shot putter, has been elected unopposed as the new president of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), succeeding the long-serving Adille Sumariwalla. Sagoo, who won a gold medal in the men’s shot put at the 2002 Busan Asian Games with a throw of 19.03 meters, will take over the top post at the AFI’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Chandigarh.
His election comes after the incumbent senior vice president, Anju Bobby George, opted out of the race for the top post, though she will continue as the senior vice president for a second term.
Bahadur Singh Sagoo’s Athletic Journey
Sagoo’s journey in athletics has been remarkable. Apart from his Asian Games gold, he also represented India in the 2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens Olympics. His lifetime best throw of 20.40 meters and his contributions to Indian athletics have earned him the prestigious Padma Shri award in 2006. As a member of the outgoing executive council and the Athletes Commission representative, Sagoo has been actively involved in the governance of athletics in India.
The AGM, scheduled for January 7-8, will see the appointment of new AFI office bearers for the next four years. Sagoo’s election marks a new chapter for the AFI, with a focus on strengthening the federation’s anti-doping stance and promoting the development of athletics in the country. The AFI has invited an observer from the international body, World Athletics, to ensure transparency and adherence to international standards during the AGM.
🚨𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦🚨
Asian Games Gold medallist Bahadur Singh Sagoo is all set to become the new President of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) during the Annual General Meeting in Chandigarh. 🇮🇳✅
@WorldAthletics @afiindia pic.twitter.com/AnTYldnE4I
— Dugout Stories (@DugoutStories) January 6, 2025
Sumariwalla, who has served as AFI president since 2012, has overseen significant achievements, including Neeraj Chopra’s historic gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics and a silver at the Paris Olympics. His tenure has been instrumental in elevating Indian athletics on the global stage. As Sagoo steps into this leadership role, he carries the responsibility of continuing this legacy and furthering the growth of athletics in India.
The new executive committee will also include notable names such as Sandeep Mehta as the AFI secretary, Jyotirmoyee Sikdar as the joint secretary, and Stanely Jones as the treasurer. The committee aims to implement robust measures to curb doping and enhance the overall performance of Indian athletes.
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